Nothing to Laugh At: Compassion and Empathy Meet the Funny by Bob “B.B.” Widdop is a heartwarming and inspiring exploration of the Clown Care program at Harvard University’s prestigious Boston Children’s Hospital. This narrative combines personal stories and comprehensive research, providing readers with an in-depth exploration of a distinctive healing approach that harnesses the power of humor. Widdop masterfully recounts the evolution of this program on a regional scale and its impact nationally and internationally. Widdop shares photographs that highlight how special and important the program is. He openly shares his experiences with clarity and sensitivity, and his storytelling is engaging and infused with humor and emotion, making it easy to connect with the text and understand the significance of this healing art.

The story is incredibly moving as fate brings together Bob “B.B.” Widdop and his clown career. A friend of his daughter, and subsequently her father, got Widdop on the path to his future. An early out at his corporate job at a telephone company landed him right where he wanted to be—working for the Clown Care program, which sends specially trained performers to pediatric, geriatric, and special needs facilities. These clowns are not just entertainers; they are skilled practitioners who use comedy to bring joy and comfort to patients of all ages. As someone who experienced pediatric illness, I can relate to the wonderful healing power of comic relief. Nothing to Laugh At highlights the healing power of laughter. It’s an informative guide for medical professionals, volunteers, students, and anyone interested in alternative therapeutic methods. This book also inspires performers and entertainers, illustrating how their talents can have profound effects beyond the stage. Widdop has created a deeply moving account of those who heal with humor.

The notion of clowns appearing in hospitals to cheer up the sick stretches the imagination, but Bob "B.B." Widdop devoted his considerable talents as a musician, performer, and comedian to being a family entertainer (clown), bringing joy to patients in hospitals. He shares his experiences in Nothing to Laugh At: Compassion and Empathy Meet the Funny, chronicling his journey to introduce humor into healing as part of the Clown Care program (established in 1986) and Big Apple Circus Clown Care. Bob honed his craft part-time while working for a telephone company, before leaving to perform in hospitals on a full-time basis. Working with others, he learned to read his audience and not overdo things. As can be imagined, clowning was not immediately accepted by the authorities. After overcoming initial resistance, it became a major success that spread far beyond his tenure at Boston Children’s Hospital. In his daily routine of visits to patients, he encountered people of all ages, bringing appropriate material to them in the form of music, stories, and card tricks, while wearing clown costumes. The results were more than rewarding for all concerned.

Bob "B.B." Widdop had grown up in a family where music was an integral part of life. He also had a natural talent for comedy. His career as a healthcare clown was based on professionalism, sensitivity, ongoing training, and creating lasting memories for those he met. His key principles embraced empathy, sympathy, and compassion. His colleagues were given amusing nicknames like “Dr. Feelgood” and “Dr. Mal Adjusted”, while he became known as “Nurse B.B.” Bob was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 and underwent successful treatment, which enabled him to relate to the hospital patients on a deeper level. Bob reflects on the highs and lows, with tears of both joy and sadness. Humor heals the inner child in all age groups, but Bob reminds us that young children in particular are never too young to experience the fun that clowns bring, to take away at least some of their trauma. Nothing to Laugh At is a charming and thoroughly heartwarming account of one person making a difference in the lives of the sick and dying. It is illustrated with evocative photographs and poignant anecdotes. It will restore the reader’s faith in human nature and is an inspiring memoir.

Nothing to Laugh At by Bob B.B. Widdop is the author’s memoir about being a professional clown in healthcare. It chronicles the author’s journey from a Santa Claus who used to make his nephew happy during Christmas to a clown who tries to make people who are ill happy all year round. He talks about how it was to work with blind and chronically sick children, the elderly with Alzheimer's disease, and the dying, as well as interacting with medical personnel, hygiene, and safety protocols. He discusses when to draw the line between humor and sensitivity in healthcare settings. He describes some of the happy and sad experiences and provides some important tips on how to stay strong and move on after a loss. He shares his reflections on performing in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks and highlights the healing power of laughter.

Nothing to Laugh At is one of the most touching and insightful memoirs I have ever read. I was captivated from start to finish, moved by the stories the author shared. While being a clown seems fun and cheerful, Bob B.B. Widdop reveals both the rewarding and challenging aspects of bringing joy to those in distressing situations. His compassion and empathy shine through every page, and his ability to balance humor with heavy emotions makes this memoir both uplifting and compelling. Widdop shares various techniques he and his colleagues have used over the years to bring smiles to people's faces. His experiences remind us of the critical role laughter can play in healing, even in the darkest times. His storytelling invites readers to reflect on the importance of connection and kindness in the face of adversity. This book is not just a tribute to clowning; it is also a celebration of the human spirit and the impact of joy in the lives of others. Nothing to Laugh At is a must-read for anyone interested in the power of laughter and its role in healing.

Nothing to Laugh At by Bob "B.B." Widdop shows how partnering skills, individual virtuosity, and the appropriate emotional maturity, vulnerability, and generosity of heart are necessary for clown care. In 1995 he became the founding supervisor of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Outreach Program at the Boston Children’s Hospital. This brought the joy of the circus to hospitalized children across the United States. Bob built a polished and sensitive foundation for clown care where empathy, compassion, and sympathy are fundamental. He has wonderful memories of seeing children’s eyes light up. A touch of bubbles, juggling, magic, physical comedy, foam noses, and stickers bring joy and laughter. Bob tells of real-life experiences and stories that highlight the not-so-pleasant things life throws your way. This book brings the results of this seriously funny business to patients, their families, elders, medical staff, and other artists. He invites us to view the world of clown care and those beautiful moments between the clown doctors and kids, their sensitivity, their humor, and their professionalism.

Bob "B.B." Widdop’s career combines the full spectrum of the performing arts with medical science. His ultimate goal is to pass this work on to professionals who continue to research and develop the positive connection between humor and health. You entertain the child within the patient, no matter what their age or their illness. Bob maintains that the multidisciplinary approach to patient care with a high level of artistry is a totally rewarding and challenging operation and shows how beneficial clown care can be. His approach is to work with artists who include cultural and religious differences in their program while complying with hospital protocol. Nothing to Laugh At gives a rare insight into those who work with ill children and their families. Clowns are the only entertainers who will sing to the deaf, show the blind magic tricks, and make smiles shine through many tears. For me, it was a fascinating and much-needed work of humor in healthcare, giving a multi-structured foundation for others to develop and apply on an international level. This book is highly recommended.